Our Board
OELC is very fortunate to have a committed and knowledgeable volunteer board of directors. The membership of the board for our not-for-profit centre represents various stakeholders from across the province including educators, francophones, parents, alumni, former OELC facilitators and persons with business expertise.
The board meets regularly throughout the year providing direction and support to the leadership programs at OELC, refining and reviewing the mission and shared vision of the Centre, formulating and evaluating policy, overseeing fiscal affairs, and liaising with government and educational partners.
The following is a list of our Board members. The thousands of students who have benefited from their OELC experience thank them for their caring and committed work.
Jeff Benner,
President
Jeff is a Principal with the Grand Erie District School Board. Jeff has been chair of Grand Erie's Global Dignity Day Efforts and is currently Co-Chair of Grand Erie's Safe, Equitable and Inclusive Schools Committee. Jeff's experience with OELC/CASO is vast and impactful. Jeff was Executive Director at OELC/CASO from (2012 - 2014). Jeff attended OELC/CASO as a student with Secondary Student Council and Secondary Music. Jeff was a Leader Counsellor (Youth facilitator) in Intermediate Arts. He is the original Course Director and Developer of the Intermediate School Leadership and Secondary Growing Leadership courses. Jeff has acted as Coordinator for many Minister Student Advisory Councils as well as the implementation of the Student as Researchers Project for the Ministry of Education.
Jeff hails from small-town southern Ontario (Haldimand County). He resides now in Burlington Ontario. Jeff is a firm believer in the power of the Student Voice to make positive changes in their own personal lives, in their communities, school, and the world. Jeff truly believes that leadership is for everyone and in the power of building strong relationships with others and the environment. He is thrilled to continue on as a member of the Board of Directors.
Sonya Rozycki,
Vice President
Sonya Rozycki comes from a financial background, having a career with BlackRock Asset Management within their ETF business, iShares Canada. Sonya supports the development and growth of the digital wealth platform and tools to enhance engagements with BlackRock's clients. Sonya provides the business with insightful analysis to help drive an efficient distribution strategy, enabling the success of the sales business.
Sonya has had an on-going passion for youth leadership. She was actively involved in multiple leadership and development programs growing up. She continues to pay it forward through various avenues such as coaching competitive youth girls basketball with the OBA.
Sonya joined the Board of OELC in 2020 and is excited to be a part of such an impressionable organization to our future leaders.
Erin Chan,
Director
Erin is one of the founders of Rhenti – a Toronto-based proptech start-up serving property owners and renters. Before Rhenti, she built her career specializing in product management, most recently at Telus and Shopify. Erin graduated from the University of Toronto Rotman School of Management in 2012, focussing on business design and strategy. Her passion and strength lies in developing people-centric solutions and experiences by emphasizing first principles thinking.
She was an athlete for 18 years in the sport of artistic swimming (formerly synchronized swimming) and competed for Canada in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Games. She holds an Olympic bronze medal from Sydney.
Erin has a long history of coaching aspiring leaders in both sport and in tech. Her passion lies in helping people to grow into the best versions of themselves. She is excited to join the OELC board as one of its newest members in 2021.
Rohit Chandra,
Director
Vice President I&IT Development & Delivery, Metrolinx
Rohit Chandra is an accomplished executive known for driving transformative change across industries. As the Vice President I&IT Development & Delivery at Metrolinx, he seamlessly integrates technology mastery, agile methodologies, and project finesse to foster innovation and elevate customer experiences. Throughout his career, Rohit's roles underscore his dedication to meaningful change. At Metrolinx, Ontario, Canada, he guides end-to-end project development, translating strategy into tangible results as the Vice President of I&IT Development & Delivery. His earlier role as Director of Digital Delivery showcases his capacity to navigate complex digital landscapes, consistently delivering transformative outcomes. During his tenure at the Canadian Tire Corporation, Toronto, he excelled as Associate Vice President for Digital Operations, Digital Delivery, and Digital Commerce and Integration. His strategic initiatives optimized digital operations, elevated delivery excellence, and seamlessly integrated commerce solutions to enhance customer engagement.
Alex Paterson,
Director
Civics Lead, Canada, YouTube
As Civics Lead for YouTube in Canada, Alex manages the business team's politics, government and election efforts, driving product adoption while ensuring a responsible platform for all users.
Alex comes to YouTube by way of Google Canada where he led the Brand & Reputation marketing team. Before arriving at Alphabet, Alex served as Executive Director of Canada 2020, an Ottawa-based policy convener and think-tank and worked in and around federal politics. He began his career in broadcast news at the CBC, and later in advocacy with Greenpeace Canada.
His appointment to the Board in 2024 deepens Alex's roots with OELC, having previously served as a Youth Facilitator for the Elementary Fine Arts Program in 2006 and 2007.
Alex holds a Honor's Bachelor of Arts in Media in the Public Interest from Western University, and a Master's in Public Policy and Public Administration from Carleton University. He lives in Ottawa, Canada with his wife and two kids.
Kelsey Boire,
Director
Kelsey Boire currently serves as the Community Coordinator of Ignite Academy at United Way/Centraide Windsor Essex County where she oversees Ignite Academy programming that is focused on improving educational outcomes for children and youth living in low income. Kelsey has worked in community development in the not-for-profit sector for two years and previously in the education sector for over 9 years as a professor and teacher of mathematics. Kelsey is a master's graduate of the Faculty of Education at the University of Windsor with an undergraduate degree in mathematics and she continues to be involved in addressing issues of culturally responsive teaching and mathematics education.
Chris Wilson,
Director
Chris is the Director of Strategic Services at Transport Canada, where he oversees corporate governance and internal modernization projects aimed at reducing administrative burden and breaking down innovation silos. As an alumnus of the Secondary Student Council program, Chris understands the transformative impact that OELC/CASO's programs have on students by fostering leadership skills.
Chris has a strong track record of providing effective advice to senior officials. He has been the Chief of Staff to both Associate and Assistant Deputy Ministers and has held policy advisor roles that contributed to modernizing Canada's commercial space launch regime and advancing initiatives under the Oceans Protection Plan.
Before joining Transport Canada, Chris worked at Public Safety Canada and began his federal public service career at the Office of the Veterans Ombudsman, where he conducted systemic program reviews to ensure the fair treatment of Canada's veterans. He entered the federal public service as a student through the Federal Student Work Experience Program.
Chris holds a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration in Public Affairs and Policy Analysis from Carleton University.
Sabrina Hundal,
Director
Sabrina is an MD/MBA candidate at the University of Toronto, with a Graduate Diploma in Health Research and a Bachelor of Health Sciences from Western University. She has a strong interest in health economics, healthcare strategy, and systems-level reforms to promote wellness and equity. Sabrina is actively engaged in leadership and governance, currently serving on the Board of Directors for the Alzheimer's Society of Ontario, the Canadian Hemophilia Society, and Lupus Ontario.
Sabrina previously attended OELC as a member of the Minister's Student Advisory Council, where she gained valuable skills, insights, and lifelong friendships. This formative experience was instrumental in shaping her personal and professional growth. Motivated by the positive impact OELC had on her, Sabrina is passionate about giving back by contributing to the development of future leaders through her role on the OELC Board.